Wednesday, 29 January 2014

Our February Selection

Dear Members,

I hope everyone has been doing well- and have been staying warm!
February is a month where we are simply fed up with the constant frigid temperatures as of late, and as a result, we find ourselves dreaming of adventure, of warmer days. So it's only right that our February theme turns to travel.
Thank you to everyone who voted: it was clear that we are packing our bags to Italy in Marlena de Blasi's A Thousand Days in Tuscany!

Summary: They had met and married on perilously short acquaintance, she an American chef and food writer, he a Venetian banker. Now they were taking another audacious leap, unstitching their ties with exquisite Venice to live in a roughly renovated stable in Tuscany.

Once again, it was love at first sight. Love for the timeless countryside and the ancient village of San Casciano dei Bagni, for the local vintage and the magnificent cooking, for the Tuscan sky and the friendly church bells. Love especially for old Barlozzo, the village mago, who escorts the newcomers to Tuscany’s seasonal festivals; gives them roasted country bread drizzled with just-pressed olive oil; invites them to gather chestnuts, harvest grapes, hunt truffles; and teaches them to caress the simple pleasures of each precious day. It’s Barlozzo who guides them across the minefields of village history and into the warm and fiercely beating heart of love itself.

A Thousand Days in Tuscany is set in one of the most beautiful places on earth–and tucked into its fragrant corners are luscious recipes (including one for the only true bruschetta) directly from the author’s private collection.

January MeetingIt was wonderful to see everyone not only at our Movie Night gathering- where we went to see Inside Llewyn Davis at Tiff BellLightbox- but at this month's meeting! We met in the cozy White Squirrel Cafe on Queen Street, where we caught up on what we've watched, what we've did, and most importantly, what we've read! It was amazing to hear that everyone loved our first book of the year: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent! It was definitely a dark love letter to Iceland, as the novel unfolds the true story of the last executed woman in Iceland and her story being told through different perspectives. We all agreed that the book was gripping and well-written...it definitely gave us the itch to travel to Iceland!

Worth Noting:

It is very sad when I hear news about bookshops closing around Toronto: first, Nicholas Hoare, then followed the World's Biggest Bookstore, and now The Book City on the Annex. Additionally, we have long heard about the beautiful Chapters Runnymede location being closed down. Thanks to one of our members Shirley who brought this up, Indigo's CEO, Heather Reisman will be at 2225 Bloor Street West on Feb 5, 7-8pm to respond to questions and concerns about the impending closure. You can submit questions you would like answered at the event at jzeliger@indigo.ca by Feb 3rd.

Future Event!

Our next meeting will be taking place next month! I have set up a Doodle link for everyone to vote on dates and times! In terms of location, I figured we turn back to a more comfy place- Panera Bread! Lots of great choices menu-wise and space, it's very accessible by train (Yonge and Dundas). Looking forward to seeing you all soon!!

About Me

The Matchbook Book Club meets once a month in various locations in Toronto. We strive to look at books that matter, stirs the heart, and provide a deep understanding of our world, with a selection of titles to "match" a theme every month. We host fun and interesting outings that coincides with what the book club aspires to be: defining what we think and imagine through old world charisma in modern times. In the words of Mark Twain: "Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life."